DIY: Outdoor Wireless Access Point/Signal Repeater

In my previous post, I went over how I created a weatherproof Wi-Fi camera rig. I decided to write a separate entry about how I got Wi-Fi signal to the camera during the construction process of my new home.

This project was installed about a year and a half ago and has been functioning since. There have been times I needed to reboot the repeater throughout the year, so it’s not like you can install it forget about it (unless you buy commercial products, not a Linksys). You also have to keep an eye out for growing shrubs and trees, since that will limit your signal over time.

First up, you’re going to have to have access to an internet connection (DSL/Cable). I had the luxury of having my parents near by, so I didn’t have to deal with any neighbors trying to secure an internet connection during construction (check your area and see if anyone has their wireless wide open… you might just want to repeat that signal).

I hope this post gives you some ideas as how to easily setup an access point outside your home. Maybe you have a park across the way that you’d love to work at, but can’t because you need to be connected… this project can surely make it possible.

You’ll need to find an enclosure that will fit your access point. Most of the time, the case is bigger than the actual electronics inside… so if you are having trouble finding a case, you can always dismantle the access point/repeater, however, this will void your warranty. For my WAP11, I took some measurements and headed to my local Home Depot. I found they had a 10″x10″x4″ PVC box that looked perfect for this project.

I wanted the status LEDs to show thru the bottom of the enclosure so I had to remove the front of the WAP11. The photos above show how I did this. I took the front part and stacked it on the back of the WAP11. This gave me some support and the height was perfectly in the middle. I marked and drilled the 3 LED holes. I filled them up with clear silicon so the LED lights could still shine thru. I also attached some double-sided foam tape so I could secure it in the enclosure.

In the photo on the right, you can see the complete naked enclosure. My first attempt was to have a full outdoor Access Point. To do this, you need a wired ethernet connection and power. So I took the PoE (Power over Ethernet) route. That worked for about a year, but, because I didn’t used outdoor grade cat5e cable when I buried it, one day it suddenly stopped working. I think a rat ate it or it just corroded. If you are planning on doing PoE, then you’ll want to follow this guide and BE SURE TO USE outdoor rated Cat5e cable!! If you don’t want to deal with volt meters and ohm’s law, the check out Hyperlink’s PoE solution.

The 8db compact Hyperlink omnidirectional antenna I used has a mast attachment, so I bought a 2″ PVC pipe and cap and attached the antenna to that. I only attached one external antenna, so I’m not doing a true diversity system like the Linksys originally had. You can turn off the other antenna or keep it on… your tests may yield different results. Omnidirectional is great if you want to spread the 8db signal over 360 degrees. Sometimes you want to use a directional antenna. Let’s say the park you want to check email at is right across the street, and the the picnic table 30 degrees to the right. You could use a patch antenna and blanket just that area with a full 8db. So instead of an 8db (or whatever) omnidirectional antenna, which spreads that 8db over 360 degrees, you can give a 30 degree spread more of the 8db signal.

Next, I attached all the cables to the WAP11 and powered it up. Again, if you are setting your system up as just a repeater, then all you need is power. If you are setting it up as an outdoor access point, then you’ll need to provide power and ethernet. Having done both, I like the repeater method. It’s easier than running a cable… but you spend more because you need another WAP11 to act as the main access point.After I mounted everything inside, I found an area I thought would work the best and did all the network setups. Then I ran some tests. Depending on tree coverage and any structures, there is pretty good coverage… it can only get better with more access points and/or bigger antennas. Flat, clear areas do better than hilly, treed areas (trees suck up the signal and metal structures reflect) For now, the coverage is pretty much want I need… but I’m thinking about putting a Wi-Fi Amplifier on the repeaters. That should really light up the block… and maybe even a visit from the FCC!Below is an “artists rendering” of my signal spread. My terrain is a bit hilly, so I don’t get the same coverage as if I were on flat lands.

125 Comments

Dear sir,
Must say that your WiFi site up looks nice.
Here in a’ little village in the Netherlands iam all so have a WiFi setup open for anyone to use.
By use of homemade (and mod it sattelite) dish i made a WiFi uplink connection to neighbouring village’s so my friends and there friends also can connect to the internet by means of my (adsl)internet connection.
On my website (Dutch lang) je can see how i build my accespoints in water dense packing.
My setup maby not as nice as yours but it working here now almost 2 yours at a row with little or no problems.
Best regards from:
Gerard de Vries
Kanaal A (n-z) 87
7881KK Emmer-Compascuum
Holland

http://www.wireless-emmercompascuum.nl Gerard

Dear sir,
Must say that your WiFi site up looks nice.
Here in a’ little village in the Netherlands iam all so have a WiFi setup open for anyone to use.
By use of homemade (and mod it sattelite) dish i made a WiFi uplink connection to neighbouring village’s so my friends and there friends also can connect to the internet by means of my (adsl)internet connection.
On my website (Dutch lang) je can see how i build my accespoints in water dense packing.
My setup maby not as nice as yours but it working here now almost 2 yours at a row with little or no problems.
Best regards from:
Gerard de Vries
Kanaal A (n-z) 87
7881KK Emmer-Compascuum
Holland

Asghar

We are working at outdoor wireless networking .Plz information about wireless outdoor access poin and wireless routers

http://Pakistan Asghar

We are working at outdoor wireless networking .Plz information about wireless outdoor access poin and wireless routers

dan

Like an earlier post I am looking for a way to boost the signal of an open wireless network in my area. It works well enough for my laptop but not my pc(which is older and has a D-Link wireless card0. Would purchasing a repeater and installing it outside of my apartment take care of this problem? Sorry if this is a dumb question but I’m fairly new to the wireless network area.
Thanks
Dan

dan

Like an earlier post I am looking for a way to boost the signal of an open wireless network in my area. It works well enough for my laptop but not my pc(which is older and has a D-Link wireless card0. Would purchasing a repeater and installing it outside of my apartment take care of this problem? Sorry if this is a dumb question but I’m fairly new to the wireless network area.
Thanks
Dan

Frank DeCurtis

in your diagram you show outdoor repeaters…what did you use to accomplish this?

Frank DeCurtis

in your diagram you show outdoor repeaters…what did you use to accomplish this?

mattie

i like it but recently i have built a repeater using a buffalo ethernet converter and a buffalo roughter
the roughter is the wireless backdoor control feed channel for the ethernet converter both conected by
lan cable this unite is solar powerd and the idear
of it is i can controll the ethernet converter and recive what data /internet remotliy throu the the backdoor channel i call it the baffalo foxbox
i watt amplafier on backdoor channel with 21dbi grid antanner
if you would like to no more email mattie_058@hotmail.com RAMBO COMS aust

mattie

i like it but recently i have built a repeater using a buffalo ethernet converter and a buffalo roughter
the roughter is the wireless backdoor control feed channel for the ethernet converter both conected by
lan cable this unite is solar powerd and the idear
of it is i can controll the ethernet converter and recive what data /internet remotliy throu the the backdoor channel i call it the baffalo foxbox
i watt amplafier on backdoor channel with 21dbi grid antanner
if you would like to no more email mattie_058@hotmail.com RAMBO COMS aust

Hi sir
Me and a friend has decided to try and build a wireless connection for our two computers over a distance of say 5-7 km. is it possible to modify normal wireless network card with say a grid antennae and a signal booster to cover that distance. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Jacques Kleynhans

Hi sir
Me and a friend has decided to try and build a wireless connection for our two computers over a distance of say 5-7 km. is it possible to modify normal wireless network card with say a grid antennae and a signal booster to cover that distance. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Jacques Kleynhans

Hi sir
Me and a friend has decided to try and build a wireless connection for our two computers over a distance of say 5-7 km. is it possible to modify normal wireless network card with say a grid antennae and a signal booster to cover that distance. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Jacques Kleynhans

Hi sir
Me and a friend has decided to try and build a wireless connection for our two computers over a distance of say 5-7 km. is it possible to modify normal wireless network card with say a grid antennae and a signal booster to cover that distance. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Jacques Kleynhans

Hi sir
Me and a friend has decided to try and build a wireless connection for our two computers over a distance of say 5-7 km. is it possible to modify normal wireless network card with say a grid antennae and a signal booster to cover that distance. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Jacques Kleynhans

Hi sir
Me and a friend has decided to try and build a wireless connection for our two computers over a distance of say 5-7 km. is it possible to modify normal wireless network card with say a grid antennae and a signal booster to cover that distance. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

http://www.toscom.ws/ ibrahim

hello
thank you for your efforts!
please keep me up to date wıth thıs subject.
we are using a semeler product
the owner of TOSCOM COMPUTER COMPANY
Mr. Ibrahım Yurtman

http://www.toscom.ws ibrahim

hello
thank you for your efforts!
please keep me up to date wıth thıs subject.
we are using a semeler product
the owner of TOSCOM COMPUTER COMPANY
Mr. Ibrahım Yurtman

buff

what equipment are use to have a wireless connection?????

buff

what equipment are use to have a wireless connection?????

Doc

Genius….

Doc

Genius….

Mike

I have a Yagi WIFI antenna 24db low loss cable to WRG54 Router WAP54G. If I put the router in wireless repeter mode will my laptop WIFI card pick up the WAP54G and connect to the WIFI source from the YAGI antenna?

Mike

I have a Yagi WIFI antenna 24db low loss cable to WRG54 Router WAP54G. If I put the router in wireless repeter mode will my laptop WIFI card pick up the WAP54G and connect to the WIFI source from the YAGI antenna?

mikey

hello. i have read this page and you say that you could get a visit from the federal communications commission. that is not true. if you show them your setup–if they come–it is obvious that you did not amplify the signal, you just repeated it for a hundred yards or so. so , they can’t arrest you or seize your equipment because it is legal. the signal is being repeated, not amplified. as long as they know that and the antenna is 5 feet or less in height, you are ok. i have read up on this particular kind of stuff and you are ok. my friend did something similar on the roof of the world trade center, got a visit from the fcc, explained the setup, and they said he was ok-even though they wanted to arrest him and take his stuff. they just couldn’t because the signal was repeated, not amplified.

mikey

hello. i have read this page and you say that you could get a visit from the federal communications commission. that is not true. if you show them your setup–if they come–it is obvious that you did not amplify the signal, you just repeated it for a hundred yards or so. so , they can’t arrest you or seize your equipment because it is legal. the signal is being repeated, not amplified. as long as they know that and the antenna is 5 feet or less in height, you are ok. i have read up on this particular kind of stuff and you are ok. my friend did something similar on the roof of the world trade center, got a visit from the fcc, explained the setup, and they said he was ok-even though they wanted to arrest him and take his stuff. they just couldn’t because the signal was repeated, not amplified.

Dov

I am trying to set up something like this in an apartment complex. are you available on a consulting basis to assist me in this project.
Thank you
Dovdov@firstkeyllc.com

Dov

I am trying to set up something like this in an apartment complex. are you available on a consulting basis to assist me in this project.
Thank you
Dovdov@firstkeyllc.com

Khalis

Thanks for this great information…i cant seems to be abel to get it done the way i wanted it… R you saying that i need to configure the wap11 first before setting it up.. Im repeating the signal from my unty house which is abt 2km..
Im using a wep54g access point…
doesn’t it make any different…??

Khalis

Thanks for this great information…i cant seems to be abel to get it done the way i wanted it… R you saying that i need to configure the wap11 first before setting it up.. Im repeating the signal from my unty house which is abt 2km..
Im using a wep54g access point…
doesn’t it make any different…??

Phoenix

Danny,
Excellent site!
Some interesting comments, didn’t feel like some people even read the article. Lol. I work for Cisco Systems as a security consultant.
Here’s what I want to setup:
I want to connect to my parents internet from my house – at 796 feet away. There are houses between us – so it would have to be above that 5 feet I heard mentioned. I was thinking I can do one of two things:
1 – Setup two access points and do the repeater thing.
2 – Use a PCI wireless access card in a Ubuntu computer to hit the signal, and then send it to my router in my house.
Using number 2 – I would not need to configure the AP at whatever location to be a repeater, as it would be giving internet to the linux box.
If you update people, you can add my to your list Thanks again,
Phoenix
To: Praveen Kumar, Roorkee (India)
You can’t tell over the phone, or the net, where you should place your access points. Line of sight is very important. The number one cause of wifi problems I have seen is standing water. Water resonates at 2.4GHz – and absorbs the 802.11b/g band quite effectively. (Probably why trees absorb wifi). My advice – place the access points/repeaters and see what kind of signal you get. You can always get a wifi detector key chain device and walk around – what we’d call a Site Survey.
Side note: The 5 GHz band will not go through walls.
To Dan:
I would just upgrade my wireless card on the PC – D-link are really cheap cards. I would get something more powerful. I have seen the same issue on my own d-link pci card…

Phoenix

Danny,
Excellent site!
Some interesting comments, didn’t feel like some people even read the article. Lol. I work for Cisco Systems as a security consultant.
Here’s what I want to setup:
I want to connect to my parents internet from my house – at 796 feet away. There are houses between us – so it would have to be above that 5 feet I heard mentioned. I was thinking I can do one of two things:
1 – Setup two access points and do the repeater thing.
2 – Use a PCI wireless access card in a Ubuntu computer to hit the signal, and then send it to my router in my house.
Using number 2 – I would not need to configure the AP at whatever location to be a repeater, as it would be giving internet to the linux box.
If you update people, you can add my to your list Thanks again,
Phoenix
To: Praveen Kumar, Roorkee (India)
You can’t tell over the phone, or the net, where you should place your access points. Line of sight is very important. The number one cause of wifi problems I have seen is standing water. Water resonates at 2.4GHz – and absorbs the 802.11b/g band quite effectively. (Probably why trees absorb wifi). My advice – place the access points/repeaters and see what kind of signal you get. You can always get a wifi detector key chain device and walk around – what we’d call a Site Survey.
Side note: The 5 GHz band will not go through walls.
To Dan:
I would just upgrade my wireless card on the PC – D-link are really cheap cards. I would get something more powerful. I have seen the same issue on my own d-link pci card…

http://blog.010techpros.com/ Networking Demi-God

This is an awesome article that I actually stumbled upon back when you first put it up, I’ve got the plans for a Wireless Predator up on my site, I gave credit to who originally posted it, but it’s a great hack that couldn’t go without reposting.

http://blog.010techpros.com Networking Demi-God

This is an awesome article that I actually stumbled upon back when you first put it up, I’ve got the plans for a Wireless Predator up on my site, I gave credit to who originally posted it, but it’s a great hack that couldn’t go without reposting.

does any body know if only repeats and amplifies wifi siignal or will it function for cell phones?

http://www.mavromatic.com/archives/000451 o m

does any body know if only repeats and amplifies wifi siignal or will it function for cell phones?

http://www.knightronics.com/ Joseph C.

I Would Like To Repeat my Single to my Younger Brothers house and he lives 2 blocks over from me also from my mon and dads hours they live 5 blocks from me i wonder if it can work? is there a Cheaper way to do it i bought most of this stuff on ebay someone let me know thank you.

http://www.knightronics.com Joseph C.

I Would Like To Repeat my Single to my Younger Brothers house and he lives 2 blocks over from me also from my mon and dads hours they live 5 blocks from me i wonder if it can work? is there a Cheaper way to do it i bought most of this stuff on ebay someone let me know thank you.

http://www.diy-wirelessisp.com/ Adam

There are some great; powerful, cheap and easy to use products on the market today. as you may know-wireless networking is a huge industry and there are several excellent companies who are making wireless products especially for the do it yourselfers.
There is a ton of information at:http://www.diy-wirelessisp.com
Learn how to set-up a DIY wireless network, find reliable easy to use products and start your own wireless ISP.
Hope that helps.

http://www.diy-wirelessisp.com Adam

There are some great; powerful, cheap and easy to use products on the market today. as you may know-wireless networking is a huge industry and there are several excellent companies who are making wireless products especially for the do it yourselfers.
There is a ton of information at:http://www.diy-wirelessisp.com
Learn how to set-up a DIY wireless network, find reliable easy to use products and start your own wireless ISP.
Hope that helps.

barrydouch

Barry is a douche bag (person who posted the first comment)

barrydouch

Barry is a douche bag (person who posted the first comment)

Gasch

In plain language how do I strengthen a WI FI signal my computer receives. Where do I by the parts (name of parts or unit)

Gasch

In plain language how do I strengthen a WI FI signal my computer receives. Where do I by the parts (name of parts or unit)

About

Welcome to mavromatic! My goal is to bring to your attention the latest DIY projects, the greatest home automation and home theater products. As well as, the occasional offbeat entry, to spice things up a bit.